Stitch separating machine



Filed March 27,. 1952 June 23, 1953 c, w, BAKER 2,642,595

STITCH SEPARATING MACHINE Y 6 Sheets-Sheet l mentor C orwz'n. M flake)" hid/16602729 June 23, 1953 c. wQ E Q 2,642,595

I STITCH, SEPARATING MACHINE Filed March 27, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 [nwziior Com m Baker {3; In Aiiarng June 23, 1953 c. w. BAKER 2,642,595

' STITCH SEPARATING MACHINE Filed March 2'7, 1952 GSheets-Shget 6 J00 r0 Lam/o4 rm a 67072-71 I 292 244 Mae/r 771015 By /1/J A [far/25y poses of inspection and adjustment.

Patented June 23, 1953 STITCH SEPARATIN G IWACHIN E Corwin W. Baker, Hamilton, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 27, 1952, Serial N 278,915

This invention relates to stitch separating machines and it is herein disclosed as embodied in a machine which, except as otherwise shown and described, is like the machine disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,558,725, granted July 3, 1951, upon my application. Said Letters Patent Claims. (01. 12- -4.1 v

contain claims generic to the present invention. The present invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the same selected for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation of theupper portion of an illustrative machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

. Fig. 4 is a side elevation in section of a combined valve and pump shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation in section of the member shown in Fig. 4; 1

Figs. 6 to 12 inclusive are side elevations of mechanisms shown in the preceding figures;

Fig. 13 is an angular view of a mechanism for adjusting the feed stroke of the feed dog;

Fig. 14 is an angular view of the presser feet and their supports; and

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic showing of the fluid pressure and lubricating systems.

The work-engaging instrumentalities of the illustrated machine consist of a stitch separating tool and feed dog (Figs. 1, 2', 3 and 9), an indenting tool 22 (Figs. 2, 3 and 10), a pair of presser feet 24 and 26 (Figs. 1,2, 3 and 11) and a Worktable 28 (Figs. 1 and 3). structure of the machine comprises a column in which is mounted a heightwise-adjustable post (like the column and post shown in Letters Patent No. 2,558,725 above referred to) and on the Post is secured a box-like head 30 surmounted by a housing 32 having a lid 34.

The supporting find the intervals'between the stitches, to feed the shoe, to separate the stitches, and to effect a preliminary-indentation at each stitch interval. The feed dog 20 is a blade-like member having an orbial movement resulting from components of oscillation in the directiongof feed and also heightwise, the feed dog being down in engagement with the workpiece during its advance stroke I and upout of engagement with the during its retraction. V

The feed dog 2!) (Fig.9) is secured, upon the forward end of an arm 44 having a yoke-shaped rear portion comprising a pair of spaced bearings 46 by which the arm is pivotally-mounted upon'a pin'48 to enable the=feed dog to oscillate horizontally in the direction of feed. The pin. is

workpiece secured in a sleeve 50extending between the bearings 46 and having a boss in which is formed a.

bearing for a horizontally extending supporting pin 52 about which the sleeve 50 and the arm :44 can swing-heightwiseto .enable the feed dog 20 to be moved up and down. The pin 52 is supported by a pair of spaced stationary bracket arms 54 secured to the housing 32. p

The means'for oscillating the feed dog 20 in the direction of feed comprises a link 56v (see also Figs. 3 and 13) having one end pivotally connected by a ball joint 58 to the arm 44 and its other end pivotally connected by a ball joint 60 (formed on the upper portion of a pin) to an ear t2 extending horizontally from a. dovetail slide The various operating instrumentalities of the machine are all driven byeccentrics secured upon a shaft 36 (Figs. 1 and 3 journaled in ball bear ings 38 which are mounted in p the housing 32. The shaft 36 carries a pulley 40 through which it is driven .by any suitable source of power, and the shaft can be turned by a handwheel 42 for pur- The several functions of the feed-dog 20 are to engages an eccentric 84 on the shaft 36.

lution of the shaft 35 will result in component of oscillation of the feed dog 20 along 54. This slide 64 engages an arcuate'guideway formed in arocking bracket or lever 66 having a horizontal flange 68 integral with a hub '10. This hub 70 is secured upon the top of an upright shaft 72 which rocks freely in upper-and lower supporting bearings 14 (Figs. '7 and 2) and serves as a fulcrum for the lever constituted by the bracket 65. Extending from the hub 10 is a rocker arm It which is pivotally connected by a ball joint 18 to the forward end of an eccentric rod (see also Fig. '7) having a strap 82 which The strap 82 and the eccentric 84 have complemental sphericalengaging surfaces to enable the rod 80.

to accommodate the displacement resulting from the arcuatemovementof the ball joint 18." "A counterweight 86 on the shaft 36 and secur'd'to the eccentric 84 helps to balance the dynamic forces acting locally on the shaft', Itis evident from the foregoing description that each revoone complete the path of feed.

Adjustment of the slide 64 in its arcuate guide- IIZhas a downward extension 7 against an end of a and permits the disk turned, operating through the linkages above way serves to vary the length of thefeed stroke of the feed dog 20. In order to insure that the feed dog 20 will always terminate its advancing feed stroke at the same point regardless of such adjustment, the arcuate guideway of the bracket 66 is so designed as to have for its axis a vertical line passing through the center of the ball joint 58 when the eccentric 84 is in its most rearward position and the feed dog is in its most advanced position. It is evident that adjustment of the slide 64 along a path concentric with the ball joint 58 when the latter occupies its most advanced position will not change that position. An initial adjustment of the most advanced positlon of the feed dog 29 in setting up the machine, or readjustment when ne'eessary, can be effected by a turnbuckle included-in the link 56 as shown inthe drawings.

To enable the length of the feed stroke of the feed dog 20 to be varied by adjustment and to be maintained in a desired position of adjustmerit, there is provided a mechanism shown in Figs'l, 2, 8 and 13. This, mechanism comprises an adjusting link 88 pivotally connected at one end, by the same pin that carries the ball joint 60, to the ear 62 and at its opposite end to a crank arm 90 extending from a sleeve 92 freely rotatable upon a stationary pin 94 depending from the lid 34. Extending from the sleeve 92 is another crank arm 96 by which the sleeve can be rocked. A link 98 has one end pivotally connected to the crank arm 96 and its other end pivotally connected to a pin I which depends eccentrically from the lower end of an upright shaft I02 extending up through, and journaled in, a bearing I04 depending from the lid 34.

-Uponthe upper end portion of the shaft I02 is secured a hub I06 of a disk I08. A handle IIO on the forward end of an arm II2 facilitates turning of the disk I08, the arm being fulcrumed on a horizontal pin II4 extending between ears II6 upstanding from the disk. It is evident that the handle H0 and the connections therefrom are manual means for operating the crank arms 90 and 96, and that said crank arms together with the sleeve 92, therefore, constitute a man'- ually operated adjusting lever fulcrumed upon the stationary pin 94 and pivotally connected to'an end of the adjusting link 88. The arm I I8 which pushes brake I I9 slidable radially in a bore in the disk. I08 and having its other end tapered for wedging engagement with an annular groove formed in the periphery of a stationary disk I20'coaxial with the disk I08. A compression spring I22 normally holds the handle IIO up, with the extension H8 in braking position. A stationary pointer I24 cooperates with graduations on the periphery of the disk I08 to indicate positions of the disk cor responding to various adjustments of thelength of the feed stroke of the feed dog 20. Depression of the handle IIO releases the brake I I9 I08 and shaft I02 to be described'to move the slide 64 in its arcuate 'guideway toward or from the axis of the fillcru'fn shaft 12 to vary the extent to whichthe feed dog 20 'will beiet'racted on its back-feed movement. in the illustrated machine the'ce'nter of the ball joint 60, durin adjustment,

"moves in an arcuate path which intersects the axis of the fiilc'rum shaft 12, and travel or the feed dog can 'be varied from about zero to, for example, about one quarter of .an inch.

Heightwise movement of the feed dog 20 is efiected by mechanism comprising a lower toggle link I26 (Figs. 1, 3 and 9) pivotally connected at one end by a ball joint I23 to the arm 44. The opposite end of the lower link I26 engages a spherical surface formed on a horizontal toggle pin I30 which serves as a pivotal connection between the'lowerj link and'an upper toggle link in the form of two parallel arms I32 (see also Fig. 2) extending integrally from a sleeve I34. A stationary horizontal pin I36, supported at its end portions by ears I38 extending from a bracket I40, serves as a bearing about which the sleeve I34 and. the arms I32 can turn. Movement is imparted to the toggle I26, I32 by an eccentric' r'od I42 pivotally connected at one end to the toggle pin I30 and having at its other end a strap I44 in driving engagement with an eccentric I45 on the shaft 36. A counterweight I46 maintains the shaft 36 in dynamic balance at this locality.

The indenting tool 22 is similar to the indenting tool 22 of the machinedisclosed in said Lette'rs Patent No. 2,558,725 and it is similarly mounted on a connecting rod I48 (Fig. 10) which corresponds to the rod I66 of said P ented machine and which is driven by an 80- centric I576 on the shaft 36. A counterweight I52 maintains the shaft 36 in dynamic balance at this locality. The movements of the ndenting tool 22 are controlled by an arm I54 corresponding to the arm H0 of said patented machine. In the present machine the arm I54 is pivotally mounted upon' an eccentric portion of.

a shaft I56 rotatable 'in a bearing lug I58 extending from the housing 32. The shaft I56 can be turned for purposes of adjustment to vary the depth to which the indenting tool 22 descends. A crank handle (not shown) Outside the housing 32 facilitates adjustment, and can be latched in adjusted position by a suitable detent.

The presser foot 24 (Figs. 2, 3, 11 and particularly 14) has a rearwardly extending dovetail shank which is'clamped in a desired position of forward and rearward adjustment between a clamp I59 and a block I60 by a screw I62. The block I60 has a depending lug I64 which is clamped directly to a slide I66 by a screw I68. The slide I66 is movable in an undercut guideway no extending parallel to the feed or the work, that is, transversely of the machine. The guideway I10 is formedin a long irregularly shaped bracket I12 havingbearing hubs Ill and I13 at its ends by which the bracket is journaled for swinging movement upona stationary shaft I14 extending transversely of the machine a and secured in sockets I16 integral with the Fig. 6) is pivotally connected by a pin I86 to an 7 extension I88 of .ayoke-shaped lever I90 which I is fulcrumed on a stationary vertical shaft, I92. A bracket I94 secured by screws I96 to an extension of one of the arms 54 has an overhanglng sleeve I98 in which the shaft I92 is held by a set screw 200. The'two horizontal. arms of the. yoke-shaped lever "I90 have bearing. hubs Swinging movement of the lever nected by a pin 288 to an arm 2H] extending from the sleeve 62. It is evident that the same movement of the handle II8 which adjusts the length of stroke of the feed dog 28 will serve also to adjust the position, in the direction of feed, of the presser foot 24 and that the displacement of the presser foot 24 from the presser foot 26 will be greater for a long feed stroke than for a short feed stroke. T

The presser foot 26 has a rearwardly extending dovetail shank which is clamped in a desired position of forward and rearward adjustment between a clamp 2H and a block 2l2 by a screw 2 4. The block 2 I2 has 2. depending dovetail shank 2i5 which is clamped for heightwise adjustment between a clamp 2I6 (which has a beveled face engaging a bevel of the shank 2l5) and a block 2Ii (having a beveled face which engages the other bevel of the shank 2I5).

Clamping pressure is effected by a screw I8 extending through the clamp 2I6 and threaded into a slide 2I9 like the slide I66 and integral with the block 2I1.

The slide 2I9 is supported for adjustment transversely of the machine in the following manner. The bracket I12 has a forwardly extending flange 220 (Fig. 14) and an upwardly 7 extending flange 22I which together form the lower undercut portion of the guideway I10. Both these flanges 228 and 22I are cut away at the locality of the slide 2I9, their place being taken by an L-shaped clamp 222 which, in effect, may be said to constitute a continuation of the lower undercut portion of the guideway I10. The L-shaped clamp 222 is urged 'into clamping engagement with the lower edge portion'of the slide 2I9 by'two screws 224 whichare tightened after the slide has been adjusted transversely of the machine. The base of the guideway I10 is formed by a vertical flange 226 (Fig. 14) which continues to the left in back of the slide 2I9 and which, at that locality, has a downward extension 221 (Figs. 1 and 2) into which the screws 224 are threaded. The upper portion of the slide 2!.9 engages the upper undercut portion of the guideway I18 which continues to the left.

The bracket I12 is oscillated about its trunnion bearings on the shaft I14 to raise and lower the presser feet 24 and 26 in timed relation to the movements of the feed dog 28 and the indenting tool 22. To this end the bracket I12 has an arm 228 (Figs. 14, 11, and 2) extending upwardly and rearwardly from the integral hub I1I. A connecting rod 232 pivotally connected at one end by a pin 234 to the arm 228 and having at its other end an eccentric strap 236 engaging an eccentric 238 on the shaft 36 transmits rocking movement to the bracket I12. A counterweight 248 maintains the shaft in dynamic balance at this locality.

The worktable 28 is mounted indirectly upon a head 242 (Fig. 1) corresponding to the member 266 of the machine disclosed in Letters Patent No. 2,558,725 above mentioned. The arrangements for adjusting the worktable 28 with respect to the head 242 are similar to corresponding arrangements disclosed in said Letters Patent and need not bedescribed herein. ,The head 242 constitutes the upper portion of a plunger. 244 which is guided for heightwise move ment in a hydraulic cylinder comprising a bore 246 formed in a stationary block 248 secured to the machine head 30. A vent normally closed by a plug 249 can be opened to release air trapped below the plunger 244.

The worktable 28 is yieldingly. urged up during each feedingmovement of the work; and it is locked against heightwise movement during each operation of the indenting. tool 22 so as to afford a rigid support to the work while the work is being indented. Such control of the worktable 28 is obtained by a fluid pressure system shown in Figs. 1, 2, '4 and 5 and diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 15. This fluid pres sure system comprises a pipe .258 (Fig. 1 shows the entire pipe and Fig. 2 shows it as broken away at its lower. portion) communicating at one of its ends with the bottom of the bore 246 and. at its other end with. an annular port 252 (Fig. 5) formed in a stationary sleeve 254 which serves-as. a. lining for *a heightwisebore in a block 256 secured to .and depending fromthe base of the housing 32. Formed in the sleeve 254 above the port 252 is another-annular port 258- communicating. with oneend of a pipe260, the other end of which pipe is connected, through a T-fltting 262, to a pipe 264 which leads to the bottom of a hydraulic accumulator 266 containingliquidin the form of lubricating oil and ai'inunder pressure. This accumultor may be ofthe type shown in Fig. 2 of United States Letters Patent No. 2,578,959, granted December 18, 1951, upon the application of Joel E. Yarborough. A tire valve 268 enables the accumulator 266 to becharged with air. It is evident that when theports 252 and 258 are both open, the air pressure in the accumulator is transmitted through the oil in the pipes 264, 268 and 250 to the oil in the bore 246 below the plunger 244 to urge the plunger and the worktable 28 yieldingly up.

In the illustrated machine the port 258 is always open and .the port 252 is intermittently closed by a valve plunger 210 reciprocating in the sleeve 254 and connected by a stem 212 to a tablesupporting plunger 244 during the feeding movements. of the work and to close the valve 252 and thereby hydraulically lock the worktable 28 against heightwise movement during the indenting stroke of the tool -22. The yielding upward thrust of the plunger 244 permitsthe worktable 28 to yield down under the pressure of the descending presser feet 24 and 26; and when the presser feet come down into work clamping position, the valve 252 closes to lock I the worktable in'the heightwise position it has then-assumed. .iThereciprocating valve plunger 210 is utilized also to pump -oil through a lubricating system and to recharge the accumulator 266 with oil to restore or maintain the accumulator pressure which otherwise might be diminished by oil leakage. ,To this end thesleeve 254 has formed in ;it an annular intake port 286 (Figs. 4 and 5) pressure.

below the port 252 and at suchalevel as to be opened'when'the plunger 210 is at the upper portion of its stroke. Descent of the plunger 2'10 closes the intake port 286 and forces the oil beneath the plunger down through'the open lower end (which serves as the outlet port) of the sleeve254 and into a conduit 288 threaded into and leading down from the lower end of the block256. Communicating with the intake port 286 is a duct'290 (Fig. 4) formed in the block 256. The lower portion of thehousing 32 serves as a sump or reservoir from which lubricating oil is drawn through a pipe 292 to the duct 290 and thence through the port 286 into the space beneaththe plunger"2l0. From there the oil is forced down through the conduit 288 and throug'ha check valve 294 (Fig. 1) which permits the oil to flow down but not up. 'From' the check valve 294 the oil flows through a .conduit 296 and through a filter 298 into a T-fittin 300; and it passes from a branch of the T-fltting through a conduit 302' to a pressure-regulating valve in the form .of a'relief valve 306 which is set to maintain a pressure of from about fifty to sixty pounds per square inch on its intake side. The oil which is released by the relief valve 306 passesthrough'a pipe 308, a duct 301 (Fig. 4) formed in the wall of the block 256, and thence through a pipe 309 to a lubricating system, preferably of the type which drips the oil upon'those portions of the operating mechanism which require it. The used oil returns to the sump formed by the bottom of the housing 32 and is recirculated. A pressure gage 3l0 communicating with. the conduit 302 enables the operator toset" the relief valve 306 to the desired An'eedle valve 3i2 between the pressure gage 3l01and the conduit 302 dampens the surge of the oil pressure upon the pressure gage.

The accumulatorpressure is maintained, or is restored if diminished by oil leakage, by connections comprising a conduit 3l4 connecting the T-fittings 300 and 262. Interposed in the conduit 3H8 is a needle valve :3I6 which is usually I opened upon'starting the machine to replenish the accumulator 266 with oil if any oil has been lost by leakage overnight. After the accumulator pressure has thus been restored to normal, the valve 3H5 can be partly closed to dampen the surge of the pump or. if desired, the valve can be completely closed. .A pressure gage 3l8 interposed between'the valve3l6 and the T-fitting 262 indicates the accumulator pressure at all times.

To facilitate entry and removal of work a treadle mechanism (not shown) is connected by a rod 320 (Fig. 1) to the head 242. Depression of the treadle in opposition to the accumulator pressure serves to lower the worktable 28. The height to which the worktable can rise when not limited by the presence of a workpiece is determined by an adjustable stop in the treadle mechanism.

The operation of'the work-engaging members is substantiallylike that of the corresponding members of the machine disclosed in said Letters Patent No.,2,558,7-25 and Will now be described. To introduce a workpiece into themachine, the operator bearsidown upon a treadleto depress the rod 326 and thereby to'lower the worktable 26. The rapid periodic opening of the valve port 252 permits the operator thus to pullthe worktable 28 down against the pressure of the accumulator 266 so that he can insert the marginal portion of the-shoe bottom between the work the treadle permits the fluid pressure mechanism to raise the worktable28 to its working position. The various operating instrumentalities of the machine will then at once begin to work upon the shoe, regardlessof'whatever particular. phase they may happen to be in. Suppose, for example, that the valve plunger 210 is at the top ofits up stroke, closing the port 252 and thus holding the worktable 28 momentarily locked against heightwise movement. The presser feet 24 and 26 will be down in workclampin'g position; the indenting tool 22 will be down at about its lowest point to indent the welt; the feed dog 20 will be up out of contact with the work and will be moving in a direction opposite to that in which it feeds the work. As the shaft 36 rotates, the valve plunger 210 will descend and unlock the worktable ZB; and it will also pump oil through the lubricating system and recharge the accumulator 266 with oil, or maintain the pressure therein, as has already been explained. During this rotation of the shaft 36, the indenting tool 22 will rise up out of the work and the presser feet 24 and 26 will rise immediately after the indenting tool; and the accumulator pressure will urge the worktable 28 up with the upper surface of the welt against the presser feet 24 and 26 until the descending feed dog 20 engages the work and holds it down. The feed dog, because of its overtravel, will engage the intermediate portion of a stitch and, as it moves in the direction of feed, will glide idlyover the stitch until it engages a stitch interval, whereupon it will feed the work during the remaining portion of its feed stroke. The feed dog 20 not only separates the stitches but makes a preliminary indentation. At the end of its feed stroke it leaves the stitch interval at the precise point at which the indenting tool 22 will descend. The presser feet 24 and 26 will now, begin to descendand, immediately after they are down, the valve plunger 270 will close the port 252 and lock theworktable with the work clamped against the presser feet. The indenting tool 22, which has been up and out of the way of the feed dog 20, will now descend to deepen the preliminary stitch indentation already formed in the stitch interval. As the indenting tool descends, it will be cammed by the adjacent inclined face of the presser foot 26 into the precise position for engagement in the stitch interval. This cycle will be repeatedindefinitely until the entire portion of the sole margin to be treated has been operated upon at which time the operator will depress the treadle and withdraw the work from the machine.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a stitch separating machine, a work feeding mechanism comprising a feed dog mounted for'back and forth feeding movement, a lever having an arcuate guideway, a fulcrum for the lever, means for rocking the lever through a predetermined angle about its fulcrum, a slide movable toward and from said fulcrum along the arcuate guideway of the lever, a link for transmitting feeding movements of advance and retraction from the lever to the feed dog, a pivotal connection between the feed dog and one end'of the link, a pivotal connection between the slide and the opposite end of the link, and means for maintaining'the slide in a position of adjust= ment along the arcuate guideway, said arcuate guideway having for its axis a line passing through the first mentioned pivotal connection when the lever occupies its most advanced position in the direction of feed, such arrangement serving to enable adjustments of the slide along the guideway to vary the length of stroke of the feed. dog while maintaining constant the position occupied by the feed dog atthe end of its feeding stroke.

2. In a stitch separating machine, a work feeding mechanism comprising a feed dog adapted to enter between the outseam stitches of a shoe and there to exert a feeding force upon the shoe,

a support on which the feed dog is mounted for back and forth movements in the direction of feed, a lever having an arcuatejguideway, a fulcrum about which the lever can turn, a driven shaft, an eccentric, on the'shaft, a connecting rod driven by the eccentric for oscillating the lever about its fulcrum, a slide movabletoward and from said fulcrum along the arcuate guide way of the lever, a link for transmitting feeding movements of advance and retraction from the lever to the feed dog, a'pivotal connection between the feed dog and one end of the link, a

pivotal connection between the slide and the opposite end of the link, and means for maintaining the slide in a position offadjustment along the arcuate guideway, said arcuate guideway having for its axis a line passing through the first mentioned pivotal connection when the lever occupies its most advanced "position in the direction of feed, such arrangement serving to enable adjustments of the slide along the guideway to vary the length of stroke of the feed dog while maintaining substantially constant the position occupied by'the feed dog at the end of its feeding stroke. I

3. In a stitch separating machine, a work feeding mechanism comprising a feed dog mounted a for back and forth feeding movement, a lever having a guideway, .a' slide in the guideway, a fulcrum for the lever, means for. rocking thelever about its fulcrum, a link having pivotal connec-' tion at its ends to the slide and the feed dog for transmitting the rocking movement of the lever as feeding movement to the feed dog, an adjusting link pivotally connected at one end to the slide, a manually operated adjusting lever pivot ally connected to the opposite end of the adjusting link to vary the position of the slide in its guideway toward and from said fulcrum and thereby to vary thelength of 'the'feed strokeof the feed dog, and astationary fulcrum for said adjusting lever. ,7 i H 4. In a stitch separating machine, a worktable, a stitch separating tool for making indentations in the welt of a shoe on the worktable between the outseam stitches, means for raising and lowering the stitch separating tool to cause it to make such indentations, a feed dog adapted to enter between the stitches and there to exert a feeding force upon the shoe, a support upon which the feed dog is mounted for back and forth movement in the direction of feed, a lever having an arcuate guideway, a fulcrum about which the lever can turn, means for oscillating the lever through a predetermined angle about its fulcrum, a slide movable toward and from the fulcrum along the arcuate guideway of the lever, a link for transmitting movements of advance and retraction from the lever to the feed dog, a pivotal connection between thefeed dog and one end of the link, a pivotal connection between the r 1'0 slide and the opposite ate guideway having for its axis a line passing through the center of thefirst mentioned pivotal connection at the most advanced position of that connection in the direction of feed, such arrangement serving to enable adjustments of the slide along its guideway to vary the length of stroke of the feed dog while insuring that the feed dog at the end of'its feeding stroke will occupy the position into Which-the stitch separating tool will subsequentlybe lowered, an adjusting link pivotally connected at one end to the s1ide,'a manually operated adjusting lever pivotally connected to the opposite end of the adjusting link to vary the position of the slide in its guideway toward and from'said fulcrum and thereby, to vary the length of feed stroke of the feed dog, and a sta tionary fulcrum for the adjusting lever.

5. In a stitch separating machine, a worktable, a presser foot engageable with the welt of a shoe to hold themargin of'the shoe bottom against the worktable, a feeddog engageable WiththQ welt of the shoe to feed the shoe step by step, a lever having a guideway, aslide in the guideway, a fulcrum for the lever, means for rocking the lever about" itsfulcrum, a link having pivotal connection atits-ends' to the slide and the feed dog for transmitting the rocking movement of the lever as feeding movement to the feed dog, an adjusting link'pivotally connected at one end to the slide, a manually operated'adjusting lever pivotally connected to the opposite end of the adjusting link to vary the position of the slide" in its guideway toward and from said fulcrum" and thereby to vary the length of the feed stroke of the feed dog, a stationary fulcrum for said adjusting lever, a holder for the presser foot, a guide upon which the presser foot holder is mounted for adjustment in the direction of feed, 1 an'adjusting link having a pivotal connection at one of its ends with said presser footholder, and, I connecting means between said adjusting lever, and the opposite end of the second-mentioned ad'- justing link whereby movement of the adjusting yieldingly acts upon'-the"'plunger to urge the? worktable up, a presser foot engageable with the work piece to hold it down against the upward thrust of the worktable, a valve interposed in said passageway, connections from said oscillating means for closing the valve to hold the worktable locked during the down stroke of the tool and for opening the valve to enable the fluid pressure of the accumulator to press the worktable up yieldingly during the up stroke of the tool, a reservoir for liquid, a pump for charging the accumulator from the reservoir, said pump having a plunger directly connected to and movable in unison with the valve, and a regulating valve for controlling the pressure to Whichthe pump can charge the accumulator.

'7. In a machine for operating on shoe parts, a worktable, a tool, means foroscillating the tool heightwise to cause it to operate upon a work end of the link, said arcu -j piece on the iworktable, a hyd aulic cyli der, a plun e insa d cylinde tor supporting the'vvo t table; an accumulator con ainin liquid andai-rv un er pre u e. a passa eway in liquid between he hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator whereb the air p essu e in the accumulator yield n i acts upon t e pi n er-toauree the workabl in a n esser oot enea eabl with the wor p ece to hold i down a ainst the upwa d th ust o the worh able, a valve cylinder inte se -ins id passa way, sai valv ylinder hav ins a ort hich a he clos d tor tain liqu d w thin the d aul y nde to ock the workh e its up posi on and which be opened o .nnl kethe -y orktah e and ena le t to he suppor ed ldineiy b the p es ure :in the acn n i te a va e p un e with n the alve cyleticns inder for controlling port, lco

said tool o e ilaa e ni ansid re n eat ne t va ve plu e to c ose the port n. ...e e1ey ho d the 'wer tahl i e sed din n the down s oke o ool and :to onen he rt a d the eby en b the h n pressure o the a nmii at r t press the Worhtahle L11) y elding do he the no stroke o the tool a r se rei tor i lli b 1a pnmp's or chareinsth ac umu ator; mzt ezre er-yoi rsaid um havin a c l der -.W h s an e ension o sai ha e cy nder said al e hinteer se in also as a n nnee cfer s id h mp, and means or e ul t he pres ur to hich t e char th a e-unin atQ 8- n a m ehf. f operat ng on sh parts a we kta le a oe means f sc l a ing t ool he ehtwi e o au i o per e pon a or piece n th wenktabl a h draulic cylhder, a lunge i said cylind for supp ting th wo ktable an acc mulator onta nin il an ai u d r essnhe i passageway ween th -hyd au i cy inder and the eum r at r he eb the ai p essure h ae umw ater yie dinely cts upon plunger t u g he w rk ahle u a p esser t t eneaeeabie wit he workp ce to hold it down against the upard hrn 'e he orhtablea va1ve=oy1inde nter ose in sai passag way, sa d valve cyline v ng a por h eh can be close to retain oil within the hydraulic cylinder to lock the orhtable ts up p tion n hic can :b o enedt un o k t e worhtable a d enable it o he s port d yieid ne y th a pre su in the accumulator, a valve plunger within the valv ind o ntro ing said'eor y oo nee' i si m i t o -o i atine means or ipro at e the a ve plung -to lose t eportnd the eby h ld o ktah locked d hs he down s roke o th tool and to pen he Po and the e enable th hui pres ure f the eeduring the up stroke Qf the tool, a lubricatin device, a reservoir or u ed oil :from said 1ub at ng device, a';Dl. m p.; 9. reci ulati g il from he ese oir to th lubric ting device and fo recharging the accumulator, said pump having a cylinder which is an extension of said valve cylinder and utiliz n o s P un r t a d valve plunger, apassaeeway connecting t e pump outlet to the accumulator, and a pressure regul tine valv r anged o open on y at a p e termined intake pressure, said pressure regulating valve having its intake connected to the lastmenti ne pas ageway and its outlet connecte o the lubrica g device. a

9. a stitch separating machine, a worktable mou t d for hei htwise movement, a feed doe engage l with the welt of .a shoe on th f ed table to feed the shoe step by step, means for mpa ting to the fee dog feeding movemen s of advanc and retrac ion, mean f r y el inely urging the worktable during the advance feed.- ing movement o the feed d0g a presser foot ene aeab with the welt to hold the welt own a ai st th upward thrus of the worktable, a hydraulic cylinder. at p unger in the ylinder for supporting the work-table, a conduit connecting heeyl nd r o a supply of liq d, a valve cylinder having a port which can-be closed to retain liquid within the hydraulic cylinder to lock the worktable positively in its up position and which-can be opened to unlock the worktable and enable it to :be supported yieldingly by the urging means, a valve plunger within the valve cylinder, means for reciprocating said valve plunger relatively to .said port to cause the worktable, to be locked during the retraction of the fee og and unlo ked durin the advance of the feed dog, a system for lubricating moving parts of the machine, and a pump comprisin said valv plunger and said valve c hnder. for upply n oil to said lubric ting system.

, ins t ol, a conne ting od, means for mountin t e indentin tool on the connecting rod, rotary m ans for driving the connectin rod, a k n a on end a pivotal connection to the connecting rod ior controlling the movement of the indenting tool caused by the rotary means, and a shaft having an eccentric Portion upon which the other end of S id link is pivotally mounted, said shaft being rotatable to adjust the position to which the indenting tool descends rat the end of its down stroke 7 No references cited.

GORWIN W. BAKER. 

